MMAC - Letter to Members from President Anne Ravenstone

Dear MMAC Members
A ho, ho, ho to you this holiday season in honor of a very jolly year thanks to the support and enthusiasm of all you Manzano Mountain Arts Council member elves!

When I accepted the presidency last spring, I told my board I was only willing to do this because the organization was at a place where people were working together, taking a lot of responsibility, and full of creative enthusiasm. Well, that was even more true than I realized at the time, and I am very pleased to be the president of this organization with such a strong, committed membership and a hard working, talented board (thank you Addie Draper, Mary Schultz, Norma Pineda, Nancy Stone, Christine Franks, Lydia Strickland, Kathy Davies, Nancy Townson, Kent Potter and Dianne Doan).

2011 started very “deliciously” with a Sweet Retreat at Alpine Alley where the membership gave valuable feedback to past and future programs. We had a raffle of the fine work of three local artists and enjoyed refreshments made by Mary Childers. Sweet Retreat II is planned for February, 2012 (can you believe it is really going to be 2012?!)

The most exciting accomplishment this year was the opening of Mountain Arts on Broadway – an art center providing space for workshops, classes, and artist studios as well as a venue for informal performances and get togethers. Many thanks to our landlord, Phil Archuletta, who lets us rent the space for a very nominal fee and to all the volunteers who put in many, many hours of work to renovate the space – Tomas Wolff, Celeste Simon (and visiting friend!), Dean Schroeder, Kathy Baur, Elaine Zabor, and Kent Potter were the main workers, but I know there were others who gave their time – thank you all.

“Bach and Brownies” was the fundraiser that assured a strong start to the art center. James Yeager presented a concert on the harpsichord that was amazing and he entertained us with historical anecdotes about the instrument and its composers that made the afternoon one to remember in Mountainair. With James’ and Elaine’s monetary match and the funds contributed, Mountain Arts on Broadway was able to get off to a strong start with a feeling of real community support.

Additionally, the year saw programming that included a June Chautauqua (with Western performer Steve Cormier), a July performance of the Community Chorus, another successful and fun Sunflower Festival in August, the ever popular De Profundis in September, The Palomas Trio fundraiser at Joan Bybee’s and Ira Jaffe’s in October, a delightful performance by Kathleen Clute of some of the pieces on her new album, and a wonderful variety of classes and workshops at the new art center. Thanks to the Bybee Foundation we were able to bring the Santa Fe Opera in for a week residency at the Elementary School in the spring and the National Dance Institute of New Mexico just completed a week residency in December – high quality programming and quite an opportunity for the young people of a small town like Mountainair.

We once again received our major grant from New Mexico Arts – thank you Karen Smith for your grant writing skills. Tomas Wolff applied for and received a grant from New Mexico Clay Association that paid for children’s clay classes this summer. Some wonderful very recent news is that a grant Kathy Davies wrote to BNSF Railroad was successful and they are sending $2,500 our way!

I apologize if there are events and people I have overlooked - we had such a rich and full year! We have new and exciting events planned for 2012. I hope you all will keep communicating your thoughts and desires regarding programming and will continue your much appreciated membership support. Have a safe (take care in all this snow and mud!) and happy holiday!

Anne Ravenstone

May Day Back & Brownies

MAY DAY: Bach and Brownies

Hosted by Manzano Mountain Art Council

The art center has a name: Mountain Arts on Broadway. The May 1st opening day fundraiser will feature an art show and sale by MMAC member/artists. Remember for every person attending, an additional $10 will go toward this worthy cause. Tickets are selling fast if you haven't purchased yours, please RSVP.

View This Invitation
or paste this link into your browser: http://new.evite.com/services/links/ETKYETLLUV

Manzano Mountain Art Council Needs Your Help

The Manzano Mountain Art Council needs your help.  Please consider volunteering for one of the committees. 

Membership
Grants

Fundraising
Art/Community Center

• Work

Planning
Sunflower Festival

1. Exhibitors
2. Entertainment
3. Silent Auction
4. Interior Layout
5. Exterior Layout
6. Tent
7. Stange

Programming

• Writing/Poetry
• Entertainment

Publicity / Marketing

To volunteer, send an email to  nmacinformation@att.net

Manzano Mountain Art Council - Sweet Retreat

Manzano Mountain Art Council wants you and your ideas at our Sweet Retreat!
(Click Here For PDF Flyer)
Complimentary Desserts, Coffee/Tea, Exciting Announcements, & Raffle

Saturday, February 19, 2011
Alpine Alley Cafe, Mountainaiar, NM
1:00 pm until done :)

Raffle: 

Chances to win one of 3 Beautiful works of art by Celest Simon, Tomas Wolff, and Anne Ravenstone. 
Art work is on display at B Street Market.
Raffle Tickets are available for $5 each or 5 tickects for $20 and can be purchased at Cibola Arts Gallery, B Street Market and at the retreat.

Ande Marimba Band - Tomorrow

Just a quick reminder that the Ande Marimba Band will be playing tomorrow (Friday, November 12, 2010) at the Mountainair Elementary School Gym.  Click Here for more even information: http://mountainairarts.org/_Media/mmac_marimba_20101112.jpg

Hope everyone can attend and HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME!

Wilson & McKee Celtic Performance November 4, 2010

Wilson & McKee Celtic Performance offers traditional songs are re-worked to a contemporary shine and a drop of the ancient is added to the originals.  This is not your Grandfather's Irish music, or sloshing pub music, or simple folk tunes!  Intelligent, thought provoking fun, soulful!

Free concert presented by Manzano Mountain Art Council
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Mountainair Elementary School Gym
7:00pm

This event is made possible in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of  Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Ande Marimba Band November 12, 2010

Ande Marimba offers a fresh and unique perspective on the ancient sounds of traditional mbira music from Zimbabwe.  Comingling marimba, mbira, drum & hosho with an occasional Western instrument, the band's songs include traditional and contemporary compositions rooted in African traditions.

Join the Manzano Mountain Art Council for a Free Concert by Ande Marimba

Friday, November 12, 2010

7:00pm, Mountainiar Elementary School Gym

This even is made possible in part by New Mexico Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Civil War Sequel Tracks Couple’s Adventures Moving West: Edgar, Published by Outskirts Press - PR.com

Mountainair's own Ben Steinlage's novel Edgar is available! 
Below is a portion of the press relase available at PR.com. 


Edgar, by Ben Steinlage, is another gripping story about one of the characters in his first novel, Want To Go West Lady?


This story is about Ida Duncan’s first husband. As in the first novel it begins prior to the Civil War and goes into the Reconstruction. In this novel, readers will get a better feeling of what it was like to fight in the Civil War as well as of the chaos and the lost dignity of the southern people as they try to get their lives together again.


In this battle their salvation was the love shared by the novel’s couple, their children and their friends as they journey to a new life out west.


Civil War Sequel Tracks Couple’s Adventures Moving West: Edgar, Published by Outskirts Press - PR.com

10th Annual Sunflower Festival, Mountainair, NM - August 28, 2010

Time approaches for the annual Sunflower Festival in Mountainair, NM. This years event will take place on August 28, 2010 and will centrally focused at the Mountainair Activity Center (MAC) located on US 60, in Mountainair and will run from 10am - 4pm.

Event sponsor, Manzano Mountain Art Council promises this years event to be bigger and better than ever. Fine arts and crafts screened from statewide and regiaonal applications will be showcased. Additional market place exhibotrs will be available as well. Other events:

• Poets & Writers Picnic, Shaffer Hotel
• Sunflower Hat Contest
• Area Tours
• Cibola Art Gallery Art Show
• Silent Auction
• Raffle
• Vendors
• Live Entertainment.

No fee for attendance. Applications for entrants are available on line at http://www.mountainairarts.org/ or call 505-847-2205 for more information.

This post has been created to correct a date error in the first posting on August 4, 2010.

10th Annual Sunflower Festival, Mountainair, NM

Time approaches for the annual Sunflower Festival in Mountainair, NM.  This years event will take place on August 22, 2010 and will centrally focused at the Mountainair Activity Center (MAC) located on US 60, in Mountainair and will run from 10am - 4pm.

Event sponsor, Manzano Mountain Art Council promises this years event to be bigger and better than ever.  Fin arts and crafts screened from statewide and regiaonal applications will be showcased.  Additional market place exhibotrs will be available as well.  Other events:

• Poets & Writers Picnic, Shaffer Hotel
• Sunflower Hat Contest
• Area Tours
• Cibola Art Gallery Art Show
• Silent Auction
• Raffle
• Vendors
• Live Entertainment.

No fee for attendance.  Applications for entrants are available on line at http://www.mountainairarts.org/ or call 505-847-2205 for more information.

Sunflower Festival Gearing Up for 2010

The Manzano Mountain Art Council (MMAC) is pleased to once again sponsor the annual Mountainair Sunflower Festival.

This year’s event will showcase local and regional artists and craftspeople.

The event will include live music performances and food vendors and is being held concurrent with the 13th Annual Poets and Writers Picnic.

Saturday, August 28, 201010 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Dr. Saul Community Center111 W. Roosevelt Ave., Mountainair, New Mexico

Volunteers please contact Tomas Wolff
Artists and Vendors Applications, Click Here

Food Vendor Questions contact Deb Vetternan

Sunflower Festival A Hit

Congratulations to the Manzano Mountain Arts Council on another fantastic Sunflower Festival! It was fantastic to see so many visitors and smiling faces in town this past Saturday. Be sure to thank Council members for all of their hard work and efforts!